"Kevin, the Son of Light, the Man of Miracles?... What an interesting comment."
In the eternal gloom of the Kingdom of Shadows, where the sunlight never penetrated and the air itself seemed to weigh heavy with death, Scathach stood alone atop the city wall.
The cold wind carried with it whispers from the netherworld as her long dark purple-red hair swayed behind her. Her striking red eyes glimmered faintly as she stared into the shadows.
At her side, perched obediently, was the divine bird—a servant of Lugh, the Sun God, and Kevin's adoptive father. It occasionally relayed updates about Kevin's exploits, its voice sweet and melodic, as if enchanted to soothe.
To the undead wandering the kingdom and her disciples, this sight would have been unimaginable—a slight, stunning smile tugging at Scathach's lips. Here, where smiles were rarer than gold, it would have been considered a miracle itself.
"But it's accurate, isn't it?"
A deep voice broke the silence. Emerging from the darkness was a figure of striking beauty and warmth, with long blue hair cascading over his shoulders. His serene presence seemed to momentarily lighten even the gloom of the Shadow Kingdom.
It was Lugh, the God of Light and the Sun—Kevin's adoptive father and Cu Chulainn's biological father.
Scathach, seemingly unfazed by his sudden arrival, didn't turn to greet him. She kept her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, gripping the magic spear she had unconsciously summoned. Her voice was cool, indifferent. "What are you doing here, Sun God?"
"I'm not here to fight," Lugh said with a wry smile, raising his hands in mock surrender. He glanced at her spear and added, "Honestly, I'd rather avoid that, if possible."
"What do you want?"
"I came to discuss the child... and perhaps to ask you for a favor." Lugh's warm smile faded into something gentler, almost hesitant. "You see, I can't step into the Shadow Kingdom freely. So, before Kevin arrives here, I wanted to ask you to... be more mindful."
Scathach finally turned, her crimson eyes narrowing. "Mindful? What do you mean?"
"I mean don't kill him," Lugh said bluntly, though his tone carried a touch of humor. "For five years, I've had someone keeping an eye on him to ensure he didn't meet an untimely death. I can't help but worry you'll push him too far once he comes here."
Scathach's lips pressed into a thin line. "Your meddling isn't appreciated," she replied coldly, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes.
"If I hadn't interfered, do you think he'd still be alive?" Lugh countered, his tone gentle but firm. "Kevin is strong-willed, but you and I both know his talent isn't extraordinary. He's achieved what he has through sheer determination and a refusal to give up. But that same stubbornness could easily get him killed under your hand."
Scathach didn't respond immediately, her gaze flickering to the bird that now perched on Lugh's shoulder. She knew he was right. She had been harsher on Kevin precisely because she'd known someone was watching him.
Still, she didn't like being told what to do.
"I know you have high expectations for him," Lugh continued. "I do too. But you must understand, Scathach, pushing him too hard, too fast, could lead to disaster. He's achieved more than anyone expected, and I believe his potential is greater than we thought. But everything must be done step by step."
Scathach frowned. "You can't see him, can you?"
"No," Lugh admitted, his voice dropping to a quiet murmur. "Even now, I can't see his future. He's a mystery, even to the gods. But that's what makes him special, isn't it?"
He gently stroked the bird's head, as if to distract himself. "Most of the gods didn't pay attention to him at first. They dismissed him as a curiosity. But now, even they are watching. He's defied every expectation."
"So the gods are bored and have decided to amuse themselves with a mortal," Scathach scoffed.
"It's not like that," Lugh said, smiling faintly. "We all love a good story. And Kevin... he's writing one that none of us can predict."
Scathach's fingers tightened around her spear. "He desires strength," she said after a moment. "But with his talent, achieving that strength requires sacrifices. He knows this as well as I do."
"And that's why I'm here," Lugh replied. "To remind you that sacrifices are necessary, but too many will destroy him. You don't want to see him die because of your ambitions, do you?"
Scathach didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned back to face the endless shadows of her kingdom, her crimson eyes thoughtful.
"I'll admit, I may have been... overly harsh," she said finally, her voice quieter. "But it's because I believe he can do it. I believe he can become the one I've been waiting for."
Lugh's smile softened. "I understand. But even so, you must temper your expectations. Promise me you'll take it easier on him when he comes for his next trial."
Scathach let out a sigh. "Fine. I'll reduce the difficulty... from ten times to five times."
Lugh froze, his serene expression cracking for a moment. "Five times?! That's 'taking it easy'?"
"Would you like me to increase it again?" Scathach asked coolly, arching an eyebrow.
Lugh shook his head quickly. "No, no. Five is... manageable. Just... try not to kill him."
With their conversation nearing its end, Lugh turned to leave but stopped abruptly.
"By the way," he said, "when a hero accomplishes something remarkable, they should be rewarded accordingly. Have you prepared anything for Kevin?"
Scathach reached into her robes and pulled out a small, intricately designed cloth bag. "This. It's a spatial storage artifact I created from the remains of an undead sea monster. He'll need it."
Lugh nodded in approval. "Good. He'll appreciate it."
As he disappeared into the shadows, Lugh couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and apprehension for Kevin. He knew the boy had chosen a path filled with unimaginable challenges, but he also knew Kevin wouldn't have it any other way.
After Lugh left, Scathach remained on the city wall, gazing into the darkness.
"Kevin," she murmured, her voice carrying an unusual gentleness. "You truly are a miracle. But let's see if you can become more than that."
Her crimson eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. Scathach's ultimate wish for Kevin was no secret to her. She wanted him to surpass her... to kill her.
And she would do everything in her power to make sure he could.
If Kevin ever learned the true extent of her expectations, it was hard to say how he would respond. But knowing him, he'd probably just shake his head and laugh.
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